Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass has been available for more than 35 years and is still a commonly-used procedure in the United States.¹

The surgery is traditionally done with a long incision in the abdomen, but can also be performed laparoscopically. It involves cutting the stomach off near the top so that a smaller pouch may be made, which is reconnected to the small intestine. The procedure is essentially irreversible.¹

The two commonly used gastric bypass techniques are Roux-En-Y bypass and sleeve gastrectomy.

Roux-En-Y bypass involves creating a small stomach pouch which is then attached to a Y-shaped section of the small intestine. With this method, most of the stomach and top portions of the small intestine are bypassed. This procedure reduces the absorption of nutrients and therefore calorie intake. It is done through a major opening of the abdomen, requires staples, and is irreversible.2

Sleeve (tube) gastrectomy is a newer method of gastric bypass, which removes 2/3rds of the lateral stomach to form a new tube-shaped stomach. It can be done through either open or laparoscopic surgery but it is irreversible. Sleeve gastrectomy is often used as a primary operation to further bypass procedures for super obese (BMI of 60+) people who may need more radical bypass in the future.²

Non surgical treatments for obesity

Laparoscopic gastric banding